Combination-lock



(N0 Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. I

' C. F. HILL.

COMBINATION LOCK. I No. 605,787 Patented June 14,1898.

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(N0 Model.)

C. P. HILL.

2 SheetsSheet 2v COMBINATION LOOK.

WITNESSES Patented June 14, 1898.

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UN TED STATES CHARLES F. HILL, OF MIDDLE BRANCI-L OHIO.

PATENT OFFICE,

COMBINATION-LOCK.

SPEGIFICATIO N forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,787, dated une 14, 1898.

Application filed March 13, 1897.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middle Branch, in the county of Stark and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination-Knob Doors; and I do hereby declare the-followin g to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as'will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, v

The present invention has relation to doorknob locks; and it consists in the different parts and combination of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. 7,

T the above end the invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view through a pair of door-knobs and their attachments, showing the same applied to a door, the door-lock being omitted to avoid confusion. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section through the inside knob, showing the arrangement of the nested tumblers or disks. Fig. 3 is a' perspective view of the inner knob with the cap removed to show the internal mechanism. Fig. l is a view in elevation of the same parts. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the latch for holding the operative parts of the inner knob in' locked relation. Fig. 6 is a section taken about centrally and transversely of the knob-spindle,

looking toward the inner surface of one of the escutcheon-plates. .Fig. 7 is a similar View looking toward the other escutcheon-plate.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The improved knobs and the locking mechanism therefor are adapted to be used inconnection with any ordinary mortise-lock. The outer knob l and the innerknob 2are both hollow andof substantially cylindrical shape, as shown in Fig. l. In the outer knob 1 is a lever 3, pivoted at one-end, as shown at 4:, and extending diametrically within the knob,

. said lever being provided at its opposite end with a pivoted plunger 5,which passes through Serial No- 627,294. (No model.)

an openingin the inner side of the knob,

where it is provided with a push button or head 6, whereby the plunger may be pushed inward for vibrating the lever 3 for a purpose hereinafter described. Arranged in the inside knob 2 is another lever 7, which is pivoted at one end, as shown at 8, and which extends diametrically within the knob, the free end of said lever being provided with an offthereto a hollow spindle-section 11, which ex tends into the lock-case, where it isprovided with a squared outer surface similar to other spindlesfor the purpose of engaging operatively the lock mechanism of the door. The outer knob l also has rigidly connected thereto a spindle-section 1 2, which passes into the section 11 and through said section into the inner knob 2. The spindle-section 12 may either be tubularor it may be solid and provided with a longitudinal groove to receive the wire or rod and permit the longitudinal movement of the latter. Upon the inside of the outer escutcheon-plate is a spring 13, the free end of which bears against a polygonal collar 14, fast on the spindle-see tion of the outer knob, said spring serving to steady the movements of said knob, and most important of all to indicate to the person working the combination the proper distance to turn the outer knob for throwing the working parts of the knob into engagement for coupling the two knobs together and enabling the door to be opened. The opposite escutcheon-plate on the inside of the door also carries a spring 15 upon its inner side, the free end of said spring bearing against the spindle-section ill for steadying the movements thereofand compensating for any looseness where the improved knobs are 1 from turning too freely while working the combination. The lever 7 is actuated in an outward direction by means of a spring 16, which is preferably in the form of a piece of spring-wire coiled, as shown at 17, around the fulcrum-pin of the lever 7, and having one terminal hooked to engage the inner edge of the lever 7 for forcing the same outward, while the opposite terminal of the spring is hooked to engage the bracket or post 18, upon which the lever 7 is fulcrumed.

Mounted loosely in the inside knob is a series of disks or tumblers, three of such disks or tumblers being shown, although of course the number may be increased or diminished at will without departing from the spirit of this invention. These disks are designated by the numerals 1.), 20, and 21, the disk 19 being innermost and the disk 21 being outside. Each of said disks is provided with an annular rim 22, indicating the outer rim, which is on the disk 19, 23 the intermediate rim, which is on the disk 20, and 24: the inner rim, which is on the disk 21. Each of the disks is also provided with an inwardly-extending sleeve portion 25, and these sleeve portions are nested or telescoped one within the other and are all mounted to revolve freely within the hub portion 26 of the inside knob 2. Each of the rims 22, 23, and 24: is provided at a certain point with an open slot or notch 27, and in working the combination it is necessary to bring all of the notches of the several rims into alinement, so that when the lever 7 is rocked inward at its free end the offset 8' of said lever will enter said notches, therebylocking the several rims together and effecting a turning of the inside knob when the outer knob is turned. The disk 19 of the inner rim 2i is constantly locked to the spindle-section 12 by means of a collar 28, fast on said spindle-section, provided with a radial projection 2.9,which enters a notch 30 in the rim 24. Each of the rims is also provided with either inwardly or outwardly extending projections 31, the said projections consisting of short screws which pass radially through said rims, so that the projection on one rim will engage the projection on the next adjacent rim, whereby when one rim is rotated it is adapted to take up and rotate the adjacent rim. The inner rim need only have a projection on the outer surface and the outer rim need onlyhave a projection on the innersurface, while the intermediate rim shouldhave projections on both its inner and outer surfaces. All of these projections are located in the same plane, so that upon the rotation of the rims said projections must necessarily engage each other. These projections, which are in the form of screws, are also adjustable, and this is accomplished by providing each of the rims with a plurality of threaded perforations 32, so that its screw may be removed and placed in any one of the perforations. This enables the combination to be changed at will.

33 designates a latch which is in the form of a transverse shaft or spindle 31-, journaled in the inside wall of the knob and also in the bracket 9 above described. This shaft is provided exteriorly of the knob and upon the inner side thereof with a lever or handle 35, wherewith it may be turned, and said shaft is provided at a suitable point with a segmental projection 36, adapted to be rocked into the path of the lever 7 and so as to bear against the outer edge of said lever for the purpose of holding the lever inward in engagement with the notches 27 in the rims 22, 23, and 24. This permanently couples the two knobs together and enables them to be worked the same as ordinary knobs during the daytime. In the evening, or when it is desired to protect the house, the latch 83 is thrown out of engagement with the lever 7, thus leaving the lever free to rock outward, thereby allowing the knobs to turn independently and the combination to be destroyed, thus preventing unauthorized persons from entering the house, the house being accessible only to those who are acquainted with the combination.

By means of the construction above described the necessity of carrying a key for operating a door-lock is entirely obviated. It is only necessary for a person acquainted with the combination to turn the outer knob a snffieient number of times to set all of the tumblers in motion. The knob is then stopped at a predetermined point-for instance, with the button or head 0 uppermost. This brings the notch in the outer rim 22 in position to receive the offset 8 of the lever 7. The knob is then rotated in a reverse direction a predetermined distance, so as to bring the notch of the intermediate rim into alinement with the notch in the outer rim and also into po sition to receive the lever 7. The direction of the knob is new again reversed and the knob is moved a certain distance, thereby bringing the notch in the inner rim 24 into alinement with the other notches, whereupon the plunger 5 may be pressed inward, thus rocking the lever 3 and consequently the lever 7and bringing the offset into interlocked engagement with the notches 27. By now turning the other knob the inner knob will' be correspondingly turned, and by reason of the engagement of its spindle with the doorlock the lock will be operated and the door may be opened. The inside knob is provided with a removable portion or cap 37, whereby access may be had to the mechanism contained in the inside knob for the purpose of changing the combination when desired.

It will be understood that the knobs and the locking mechanism therefor above described are susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, which may accordingly be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having now described the invention,-what is claimed as new, and desired'to be secured by Letters Patent, is I l. A pair of hollow knobs each carrying a spindle-section, one of which is tubular, in combination with levers mounted in said knobs, a connection between said levers for simultaneously operating them, and locking mechanism arranged in one of the knobs and adapted to be engaged by one of said levers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. Two hollow knobs, each having spindlesections, one of which is tubular, in combination with-levers arranged one in each knob,

a connection between said levers for simultaneously operating them, means projecting exteriorly of one of the knobs for operating one of the levers, and locking mechanism 'in the other knob adapted to be engaged by the ed in said knob for engagement with the notches in the tumblers, a spring for giving said lever a normal tendency, and an operating connection for said lever extending through the knob-spindle and adapted to be operated from the opposite knob, substantially as described. i

c In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. HILL. Witnesses: I

DAVID W. HILL, WILSON BIXLER. 

